SANTA CLAUS ARRIVES AT THE PORT

A crowd gathered on the Port of Brookings Harbor boardwalk Saturday to see the arrival of Santa, Mrs. Claus and two elves from the North Pole.

Crewmembers from the U.S. Coast Guard Station Chetco River met Santa and his entourage at an undisclosed location where his sleigh, pulled by eight tiny reindeer, made its landing. The Coast Guard transported the group to the sport basin, announcing its arrival with lights flashing and siren blaring on the motor lifeboat.

Santa made his way to a chair where children lined up, waiting for their turn to sit on his lap and tell him what they would like for Christmas. His elves gave bags of candy to all children who visited the jolly elf.

The line of children and parents continued from the time of Santa's arrival until there was no longer anyone at the boardwalk area.

To help celebrate Santa's arrival to the port, the Brookings-Harbor High School Concert Choir sang Christmas carols. People were able to follow along using the Pilot's Holiday Songbook. Later, the Book Dock Band performed a series of holiday songs.

Hot spiced apple cider and cookies were served to help ward off the Arctic chill.

Santa will continue his busiest season of the year by making more guest appearances around Brookings-Harbor.

At his next appearance, he will arrive by fire truck to the Brookings city parking lot on Chetco Avenue across from Redwood Theater on Saturday, Dec. 4.

Entertainment by the Brookings Church of the Nazarene, Jefferson State Boondock Band, Kim Banfield and Mike Quale, and the high school cheerleaders begins at 5:30 p.m.

The city Christmas tree will be lighted at 6 p.m. People are asked to bring a canned food to be donated to the Elks Christmas Gift Basket project and their holiday songbook inserted in the Nov. 27 issue of the Pilot.